Initial or monogram cap for golf club shafts



Nov. 10, 1931. s. FAITH 1,830,936

INITIAL OR MONOGRAM CAP FOR GOLF CLUB SHAFTS Filed July 2, 1931 mdaaj- M Patented Nov. 10, 1931 P T T STEPHEN- mm or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS OFFICE INITIAL on macaw m ron GOLF CLUB SHAFTS 1 a v Application filed -Tuly 2, 1931. s m. 548,408.

My invention relates to an initial or monogram cap for golf club shafts and, generally speaking, is concerned with the provision of a device of this kind which readily may be properly positioned on and attached to the club shaft, which protects the end of the club shaft, which presents good appearance, and which is capable of being economically manufactured. 1

One of the features of provision of special means in the grip or handle end of a club shaft for facilitating the application of the cap to the club and co-operating with the cap firmly to'hold the latter in the desired position when applied.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention'will appear as the following detailed description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in axial section of'the grip or handle end ofa golf club shaftof wood which'has been provided with improvements facilitating the application of an initial or monogram cap thereto v v Fig. 2'is a plan view of the upper end of the shaft portionof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of an initial or monogram cap suitable for applicationto a club shaft provided with the improvements of Figs. land2; J I

' I Fig. 4 is a side elevational' view of the cap;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating how the friction plug of the shaft may be depressed prior to the application of the captotheshaft;' I r Fig. 6 is an axial sectional View illustrating the cap in thefirst the club shaft; i i 4 V Fig. 7 is a slightlyenlarged view-partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the cap and plug as they appearwhen the cap is finally appliedto the club shaft; and

Fig. 8 is an axial sectional view of amodification of the present invention, the-several parts in this View being shown as they appear {just before the screw of. the cap isthreaded down'against the movable plug of'the club shaft. a j

the invention is the stage of itsapplication to Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

At 10 I have illustrated the handle or grip portion of a golf club shaft of wood. As herein illustrated, the upper end of the 'shaftiis I slightly convex, as indicated at 11. The usual grip wrapping of leather or other suitable material "is indicated? at 12.

Formed in the upper end of the shaft is an axial blind bore, a which preferably is of uniform diameter throughout its length, this bore ordinarily, in my practice of the invention, being approximately one-eighth of an inch in diameter and something less than an inch in length. i

Firmly pressed into' the bore a and lying flush with the convex endIll of the shaft is ashort cylindrical plug 1), which preferably is formed of a hard materiahsuch for instance as commercial fiber, whichwill not be penetrated or substantiallypenetrated by the screw of the initial or monogram cap, 'presentlyto be described. The plug b'preferably is of a color contrasting'with the color of the wood of the shaft to givethe upper end of the'shaft a good appearance prior to the application of'the cap, and to facilitate the immediate'location of' the plug whenit is to be depressed prior tothe application of thecap. a E f Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the club shaft and its 'fiber plug b as they usually will appear whensold by the manufacturer of the clubs,

the idea of the present invention being to provide the club shaft with means for facilitating'the ready application of an initial or monogram cap which'usually will be applied by the retailer or by thc'ultimate purchaser after the latter has determined the initial or monogram'which he wishes to have appear upon' his'clubs.

" The cap 0 preferably is provided with a convex upper surface 13, a concave lower surface 14 anda milled or knurled peripheral bore a of the club shaft and of a length substantially less than said bore a.

Formed on or in the upper surface of the cap 0 may be an initial, together with any suitable decorative design or marking, all as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

After a golfer has selected a cap 0 bearing the initial or monogram design which he prefers, the plug 6 of the club shaft to which n the cap is to be applied is slightly depressed within the bore a as illustrated in Fig. 5. This depressing of the. plug 6 may be accomplished by any make-shift instrument such as a nail, but I prefer to employa shouldered tool of the kind indicated at 16. The wood screw d of the. cap is then applied to the open end of'the bore a and'iscthreaded down into the same until the point of the screw engages the friction plug 6. As illustrated in Fig. 6, this occurs while. there is still a substantial clearance between the opposed surfaces 11 and 14 of the cap and shaft respectively. Threading of the wood screw it into the bore a now is continued, this further threading of the screw into the bore being substantially resisted but not prevented by the fiber friction plug 6. The cap is turned down until it has the snuggest fit with the convex upper end of the club shaft which is consistent with the "gram so located that it readilymay be read when the club is' gripped as in play. The fric- "tion plug b is of considerable advantage in enabling the mitral or monogram to be adpisted in the desired position without there being any serious danger of the cap becoming loose from the club shaft by reason of failure to screw the cap against the club shaft with the utmost force. The effect-of the friction plugupon the screw, after the screw hasengaged the plug, is to keep the uppersurfaces of the several convolutions of the thread of lengthsuch that its compression by the plug '6 does not commence until the latter has been engaged and started on its further downward movement as a result of its engagement by ={the pointed end of the screw cl ofthe cap. This arrangement, of Fig. 8, enables the plug 6 continuouslyto exert upon the screw d an upward pressure which magnifies the tendency and ability of the plug to prevent casuall loosening of the cap from the club shaft, even though the cap may not be threaded downupon the club shaft to the greatest extent which wou'ldbe'possible if the proper-potaken into consideration.

By monogram cap as these words are used in the appended claims, I mean to include any cap carrying an initial, monogram or other design or identification mark individual-to the owner of the club to which the cap is attached. 7 g y lVhile I have illustrated the improvements of the present invention applied to a golf club shaft of wood, it will be understood that the invention may be, applied to metal shafts if desired.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: l e

' 1. A club shaft havingablind bore in its handle end, a plug located in said bore,--and a monogram cap provided with a screw adaptedto be threaded into said b'ore against the resistance afforded bysaid plug.

2. A club shaft having a blind bore in its handle end, a friction plug located in said bore, and a monogram capfor said end-of the shaft provided with a screw adapted to be threaded into said bore against the frictional resistance of the plug. r

3. A club shaft of wood having a blind bore carried by the cap adaptedto be threaded into said blind bore, and means within said bore coo erating -with the screw to hold it against oosening as" the result of casual shocks. I I

5 A -club shaft having its handle end adapted for the reception of-andthreadedengagement with a monogram cap, there :being a blindbore in said handle end, anda friction plug fitted in and closing said b'ore,'saidcfriction plug'being adapted to recede into the bore topermit threading into the boreof the screw of a monogram cap. i

6. A club shaft having its handle end adapted for the reception of and threaded engagement with a monogram cap, there-being a blind bore of uniform diameter in said handle in its handle end, a friction plug of; a hard end,a friction plug fitted in and closing said blind bore, said friction plug being adapted to recede into said blind'bore under the pressure of the screw of amonogrampapwhen said screw is threaded into said bore.

commbdate the insertion of the screw, and threading the screw into the bore against the frictionalresistance of the plug.

8. A club shaft provided with a blind bore in its handle end, a plug in said bore, a monogram cap for said shaft provided with a screw adapted to be threaded into said bore and when so threaded to move said plug inwardly, and a spring insaid blind bore adaptr I ed to be put under compression when the plug is forced inwardly by the pressureof said screw. H

In witness whereoLI hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of June, 1931.

STEPHEN FAITH. 

